Lamp socket



' Feb. 2l, 1928.

.Ll-10H1.

LAMP SOCKET Filed vea. 5. 1922 Patented Feb. 21, 192s.

UNITED s-TATES .1,659,951 PATENT oFFic.

JOI-IN HOHL, OE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A.ASSIGNOR TO MOLDED SOCKET CORPORA- TION, OF RAILROAD, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF` NEW lJERSEY. 'y

LAMP SOCKET.

Application filed December 5, 1922. serial No. 604,993.

This invention relates to lamp sockets of cold moldable insulating material and to a method of making` such sockets.

An important object of the invention is to produce a lamp socket having a body entirely formed of cold moldable insulating material. the outside of the body being of the same shape and size as the standard brass shell socket and therefore adapted to receive any standard lamp shade holder.

Another objectof the invention is to produce a socket of such insulation having `a lamp receiving screw shell molded in place in cold molded material. y

Still another object is .to provide a quick economical method of making such sockets.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section 'of a female die containing a molded socket.

Fig. 2 is a half section of a socket having a plain insulating collar.

Fig. 3 is a half section of a socket having an insulating thread to receive a shade holder.

Fig. 4 is half sect-ion of a socket having a. plain metal collar, and

Fig. 5 is a half section of a socket having a threaded metal collar.

' My socket may be made of any of the well known cold moldable insulating compounds and in its simplest form consists of a body portion 6 having a tapering shoulder 7 connected by a narrow neck 8 to a collar or band 9, all made in one piece. The neck is of the same external diameter as in the standard brass shell type of socket and is thus adapted to receive any shade holders designed to be secured to the neck portion of standard sockets. The upper edge of collar 9 prevents such shade holders from slipping oii'. In order that the neck 8 which is necessarily very thin in order to come within the standard dimensions may have sufficient strength to be durable in practical use, I mold a. screw shell 10 within the neck portion. The neck portion having considerable inherent strength also reinforces the screw shell7 so that I can use a shell of considerably thinner sheet metal than is possible with the usual socket in which the screw shell is not reinforced.

In making my socket I place the screw shell 10 on a suitable collapsible mandrel 11 which is then inserted in one end of a female die 12. I have found it mostvsatisfactory Vto lemploy a one pieceA die having an Lipper i diameter equal to that of the bbdy rportion 6 of the socketythe wall tapering inwardly to form the shoulder 7 and the diameter of the die below the shoulder being equal to that of the collar 9. YThe die may'also be slightly conical as a wholeto facilitate withdrawal of the mold-ed articles. After the mandrel and shell are inserted in the die, I put in the required quantity of `the insulation and apply` pressure as by' a male die which may be shaped to produce any desired pockets 13 to hold switch or contact members and an aperture 14 (Fig. 4) for. the center and molded socket from the die. The unbaked socket is easily machined and after coming from the mold I remove a band of material from the outside of the neck port-ion in order to bring the neck down to standard dimensions and leave the collar 9 with its upper edge which prevents shade holders from lslipping out of place. I am able to machine the neck to the yrequired thinnessV because of the interior support which it receives from the molded in screw shell. If it were not for this support the neck would not be strong enough before the socket wasA baked to stand machining to the necessary thinn'ess. While theeXcess neck insulation is being removed, I may also threadV the collar portion as at 15 (Fig. 3) to receive standard screw threaded shade holders. After machining, the socket is baked and polished and is then ready for assembly with the contacts.

To render easy the insertion of lamp bevel the lower end of the socket as at 16, thereby producing asharp edge. If desired this edge may be .reinforced by a metal band or collar 17 (Fig. 4.) which is molded inl during thev forming of the socket. In this case 01. .plug bases in the screw shell 10, I preferably contact screw. I next withdraw the mandrel Cil Subject to short circuits or corrosion When in moist or `polluted atmosphere. My method of manufacture also permits rapid quantity production at a very 10W cost.

I claim:

l. A socket comprising a molded;k insulating body having a thin neck integral therewith and a metallic screw shell molded neck extending beyond Said screw shell, *said* neck having` :a screw thread integral -tlierewith and projecting therefrom immediately ing body having a thinneck integral therewith and a metallic 4screwshe'll moldedl under pressure inside of said. thin neck ,and rein? forcing said neck, the outer'end of Said neck-extending beyond said screwsh'ell and a screw thread for a shade holder on theouter wall of"sa1d`neck surrounding a por-Y tion .of said Screw shell;

' ,1on1-11NHenny,A` 

